This Sunday we are starting a new church wide campaign on the most famous message ever preached, The Sermon on the Mount. Over the next 5 weeks I will be preaching from Mattew 5-7, and our Community Groups will be covering all of Jesus’ teaching from this famous passage. The title “The Narrow Path” comes from the conclusion of the sermon where Jesus calls his followers to take the narrow way that aligns with His righteousness instead of following broad way that aligns with the values of our fallen, sinful world. The way of following Christ will be a narrow path that stands counter to the values promoted predominate culture around us.

This Sunday we look at the first few verses of the Sermon on the Mount known as The Beatitudes. The beatitudes are eight statements that have a cause and effect of sorts: you will receive a blessing from God when you display the various character traits listed in the beatitudes. In this introduction Jesus sets the tone that those following the narrow path will live differently than people who are on the broad way. The message of the world says you need to look out for yourself. That your welfare and advancement should be your number one concern and that your goal should be to live a life full of the blessings from this material world. The character God seeks is not self-promotion but humility. Not boasting but meekness. Not retributive justice but mercy. We are to be single-minded for God, seeking peace and willing to suffer for kingdom advancement. The promise Christ makes for those who seek that kind of character is the blessings of God. Blessings that are beyond the value of anything in this material world.

Join me this Sunday for the start of the Narrow Path and, if you are not in one of our community Groups consider joining one even if its just for these 5 weeks. My wife Sue and I are starting a new group on Thursday nights, meeting in the Church welcome center at 6:30 pm. Send me an email if you are interested in joining us.